CADBURY Schweppes today unveiled a six per cent profits tumble for the first six months of the year - just over a month after announcing 7,500 jobs would go.

But the parent company of the Bournville chocolate maker insisted the turbulent debt markets would not derail plans to separate its 7UP-to-Dr Pepper drinks business in North America.

The confectionery giant is pursuing a sale process, but said it was prepared to carry out a demerger if markets did not stabilise sufficiently.

Meanwhile, the group has insisted the future remains rosy for the Bournville chocolate factory, whose 3,000 workers received a vote of confidence in June following #40 million of investment in production facilities.

The Birmingham factory remains the largest chocolate making facility in the world and is hailed as a "manufacturing centre of excellence" within Cadbury.

The parent group revealed last week it would give suitors more time to put together bids for the drinks arm Oagainst a more stable debt financing market."

Stripping out the drinks business, Cadbury said underlying profits fell 6 per cent to #180 million in the first six months of the year.

While revenues grew by 6 per cent to #2.3 billion, Cadbury said profitability was hit by a number of factors, including exchange rates and the cost of launching its Trident gum business in the UK.

Marketing spend at #245 million was #5 million higher than 2006, with a "significant proportion" of the figure focused on the UK.

Cadbury also received a #1 million fine after admitting last month to food safety offences.

The charges, which included a failure by Cadbury to notify the authorities of positive tests for salmonella, were brought by Birmingham City Council and Herefordshire Council after a total of 42 people fell ill in the first half of last year.